Overview & Reviews

Volkswagen is an automaker based in Germany. Its products typically command a higher price than those of competing models, but the return is a more upscale driving and ownership experience.

In 1934, Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to build a small, inexpensive car at the request of Adolph Hitler. His answer -- a beetle-shaped sedan that was called a Volkswagen (German for "people's car") -- debuted two years later. Hitler had a town built near the plant for factory workers; he named it Kraft durch Freude Stadt (derived from the Nazi party's motto, "Joy through Strength"), and soon decided that Porsche's creation should be named the KdF-wagen (short for the "Joy through Strength" car). This upset Porsche, who was not political.

World War II delayed production of the vehicle; the factory suffered extensive damage during combat, and was ultimately taken over by the British Army. The company was renamed Volkswagen, and the town at the factory was renamed Wolfsburg (after Werner von Schulenberg of Wolfsburg, who had been forced to surrender his land for the construction of the town and factory). By the end of the 1940s, mass production of the Volkswagen Beetle had begun. The model made its first appearance on U.S. shores in 1949.

The 1950s saw Volkswagen broadening its product range, adding the Bus (Type 2) to its lineup. The Bus, especially, proved quite popular due to its versatility. And the Beetle, which went on to become the best-selling car of all time, quickly showed signs of being an enduring favorite, with more than 1 million models produced at the Wolfsburg factory by 1955. This decade also saw the debut of the Karmann Ghia sports car, which featured a sleek, Italian-designed two-seater body atop a Beetle platform.

Volkswagen's star rose during the 1960s, its success fueled largely by the breakout success of the Beetle. The car benefited from an effective advertising campaign and from an appearance in a popular Disney movie. By the close of the decade, Volkswagen's yearly output of Beetles topped the 1 million mark.

In 1972, with more than 15 million units assembled, the Beetle topped the world production record set by Ford's Model T. Mid-decade saw the launch of a new era of Volkswagens that had front-mounted, water-cooled engines driving the front wheels. The Passat (Dasher in the U.S.) was the first of the new breed and was built using standardized components that could be used interchangeably among other models in the manufacturer's lineup. The Passat was soon joined by the Golf (Rabbit in the U.S.), which met with immediate success. By the end of the decade, the manufacturer's lineup had grown to include the Scirocco sport coupe and the performance-oriented Golf/Rabbit GTI. The Beetle, however, was discontinued for the U.S. market.

The Golf grew in popularity during the '80s, becoming Volkswagen's most popular model. When a second generation of the car was built in 1983, it was crafted in a mostly automated process using robots -- marking the first time robots had been used in vehicle manufacture. By the mid-'80s, the U.S. version traded the Rabbit name for "Golf." The higher-performance Golf GTI helped the manufacturer make waves on the rally circuit. In 1986, Volkswagen Motorsport nabbed the title of Group A World Rally Champions.

Volkswagen saw its sales in the North American market tumble during the early '90s, but by the end of the decade, refocused marketing efforts and an increased emphasis on new products had brought about a turnaround in the company's fortunes. The popular New Beetle helped put the company back on the radar in the United States (though it fared less successfully in European markets). The body style was based on the classic Beetle, and it struck a chord with consumers who still had a place in their hearts for the iconic, cheerful-looking "love bug."

The new millennium saw Volkswagen moving into the luxury segment with the launch of the pricey Phaeton sedan and Touareg SUV. Though well-designed and executed, the Phaeton was a disappointment sales-wise, perhaps signaling unwillingness on the part of consumers to shell out premium dollars for a brand that lacks the cachet of established upscale names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Luckily, Volkswagen has seen success with other vehicles in its lineup, which currently includes everything from family-oriented sedans to roomy SUVs. Today, the automaker enjoys a reputation for crafting vehicles that offer refined handling and upscale accommodations.

User Reviews:

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  Worst Vehicle Owned - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kelly - November 27 - 4:30 am

  I drive about 40,000 miles per year, I thought I would get a lot of miles out of the TDI, I currently have 115,000 miles on it and I would never buy another VW Diesel. The maintenance costs are outrageous; timing belt, filters and special oil. I had to replace a head at 103,000 miles, cost $7,000, why, VW could not answer that. I suspect that they used the wrong oil on one of the changes. Make sure you read the maintenance manual about the oil, VW was the only one who serviced my engine, but who is to say they used the correct oil. Im sure the 2009s are similar. Replaced Belt and routine filters and maintenance @ 80,000 and that cost around $1500.

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  Great look. Poor workmanship. - 2010 Volkswagen Routan
  By rigosauce - November 27 - 3:51 am

  We liked that the Routon did not have the "typical" look of a minivan and being that my wife and I are relatively young, we thought we could drive it and not hurt our pride. It drives well and is rather comfortable especially if you have small children. the DVD system along with the inputs for my sons xbox were utilized to the max. we became disheartened when the van started to shake while braking. We took it ito the dealer and the front rotors were going out...at 20k miles! they fixed it but, 7k miles later, the shaking began-again.This time its the back rotors. We decided to trade in the van because we did not want to chance any more breakdowns in the future.

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  Value at a price!! - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
  By sckcivic06 - November 26 - 5:52 pm

  When I first set eyes on this vehicle I was sold. My SEL is 4 months old now and I wanted to get a real feel for her before writing this review. The exterior styling is much better this time around then the previous generation. It doesnt look cute, it looks cleaner and more Audi A4 like. VW gets a plus here. The ride is firm yet still has enough cushion to endure the NYC roads. The 2.5L has good low end torque when its needed for passing while the 6 speed auto handles the shifting solidly. The lay out of the interior has good fit and finish. The materials they used are on par with a Chevy Colbalt as cheap hard plastic. Rear seat room is more like a midsize and fits adults perfectly.

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  Great car. Technology features not tested for U.S. - 2011 Volkswagen Touareg
  By leighlane - November 24 - 1:58 pm

  Ive had my 2011 Touareg TDI for 1 year. Overall, great experience. Im an Audi loyalist, yet my VW TDI is a favorite. My Touareg has blemishes. Im 6+mo. into trying to get my Bluetooth fixed. A VW factory engineer confirmed mine isnt usable. Call recipients cant hear me. On any iPhone (3, 3G, 4, 4S) it is not usable because it picks up excessive road noise (VW didnt QA test iPhones?). VW USA and my dealer have been lackluster in support. I was told by VWs Executive Care team that I will have to pursue other means like BBB and CA Attorney General to fix this because VW USA doesnt have a trend of this as a problem. Apparently, Im the first. So great experience with a major blemish

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  Love-Hate Relationship - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By lastvw?!? - November 24 - 10:00 am

  There arent a lot of cars that offer more driving bang for your buck than this one. The VR6 engine is plenty powerful, the handling is up to the job and there are more than enough luxury features, including excellent sport seats and a power sunroof. The problem is VWs laughably sub-par build quality. This car has had problems with the clutch, the shift mechanism, the air conditioning, the cruise control, several engine computer chips and so on. Then there are all the trim pieces that have come apart or dropped off completely. Final word: Great to drive, but poorly built.

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  More than Expected - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By BAllen - November 24 - 10:00 am

  Still a "new" VW owner but am impressed so far. This car is solid, handles well and gives you a sense of being sporty yet practical. FUN TO DRIVE.

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  firsttimeVdub - 2004 Volkswagen GTI
  By firsttimevdub - November 21 - 11:00 pm

  This is my first VW. Bought it used with 41K on it, and its now got 123k and still going strong. This car is probably the most under-rated vehicle Ive ever owned. Its super quick off the line, and even makes a nice cruiser on the highway. I drive quite a bit for work and have always had sufficient power I need to get around the freeways of Southern California. Its been a great car with no major issues. I feed it synthetic oil and 91 octane gas and it in turn, gets me where I need to go every single day. Im sorry to have to sell it and get a 4 door, but if youre looking for a great car and dont need room for say, a child seat, Id definitely check it out.

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  Fun to drive, unreliable - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By k - November 20 - 4:00 pm

  This was my first new car and I instantly fell in love ... until numerous electrical problems left me stranded several times with dead batteries. At 20,000 miles I had to replace the computer, radiator, and transmission! At 25,000 miles I had a wheel bearing go out. At 40,000 my spark plugs were completely shot, to the point that my car wouldnt start. All of this despite completing all suggested maintenance and generally taking good care of the car. Im car shopping now because I cant afford to keep up with this kind of maintenance once my warranty is up, but I know Ill miss a lot of the features.

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  Dont Buy One! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BWare - November 20 - 1:46 am

  I admired the looks of the Jetta for a long time and knew this was the car for me. I bought it with 15,00 miles in 2001. When I drove the 5 speed, I was thrilled with its zip and handling. Never had a more fun car to drive. However, this car has cost me more money to maintain than ANY I have ever owned. Replacement of coils, light and electrical probs, the list is a long one. I will never own another Volkswagon. I am going back to buy another reliable, if a bit boring, Honda-which I had before and which cost me almost nothing to maintain and never broke down.

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  You get what you pay for - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By VWRattletrap - November 18 - 10:00 am

  This is my 3rd Volkswagen and yes, Id get another one. I havent had the ignition/electrical problems others have had, but my car has had its share. The list: 2 radios, engine computer, cruise control, rear passenger electric window motor, falling trim. Think of it this way: the same size car with the same features from BMW or Mercedes will cost $15-20K more . . . youve got to expect something to give. VW has put its money into the drivetrain and suspension, certainly not the interior build quality. The secret to silencing the squeaks, rattles, and buzzes of any VW is to cram a penny or two between the plastic bits that are causing the noise.